Red Fire Ant

15th September, 2023 Environment

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Context

The Red Fire Ant, one of the world’s most invasive species, has been found in Europe for the first time, according to a new study.

About

The Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta), also known as the fire ant or RIFA, is a species of ant native to South America.

Distribution

Red Imported Fire Ant is native to South America but has spread throughout much of the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, and Australia over the past century.

Habitat

They can be found in rainforests, disturbed areas, deserts, grasslands, alongside roads and buildings, and in electrical equipment.

Nature

These insects can be aggressive when disturbed and they have a painful sting, which is irritating to the skin and can cause allergic reactions. The ant can also damage crops and local ecosystems.

Behavior

They show Necrophoric Behaviour, where nestmates discard scraps or dead ants on refuse piles outside the nest.
Foraging takes place on warm or hot days, although they may remain outside at night.
Workers communicate by a series of semiochemicals and pheromones, which are used for recruitment, foraging, and defence.

Food

They are omnivores and eat dead mammals, arthropods, insects, seeds, and sweet substances such as honeydew from hemipteran insects with which they have developed relationships.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements with reference to Red Imported Fire Ant.

a) It is a species of ant native to South America.

b) They show Necrophobic Behaviour.

c) They remain outside at night.

d) Worker ants communicate by a series of semiochemicals and pheromones.

Which of the statements given above are incorrect?

1) a and d only

2) b and c only

3) a, b and d

4) None of the above.

Correct Answer: None of the above.